"I want that one."

Keijiro stared at the sleek black semi automatic shotgun in front of him that was safely secured behind a glass case. It was the bright start of a sunny day so of course Keijiro had to drag his friend, Michael, down to the shop to adopt his second baby.

"Why do you need another gun?" Michael asked with folded arms. The orange summer shirt he wore complemented his dark complexion and his hair was hidden beneath a blue cap. "And why are you looking at it like you've just won the lottery?"

"To answer your first question, my other gun got lonely." Keijiro stared at his reflection in the glass case. His long black hair was tied back into a ponytail and he adjusted the silver cross necklace he wore. "To answer your second question, no comment."

"But you didn't even answer the second question," Michael said then shook his head, "never mind, just hurry up."

Keijiro mockingly pouted at him. "Someone's mad because they don't have a license."

"I don't want nor do I need a license. It's hot and what I do want is some ice cream."

Keijiro's eyes lit up at the mention of a cold sweet treat so he hurried up the process with the shop owner. People may think shooting is an unusual hobby but Keijiro's father is an ex military turned lawyer and his mother is a detective down at the police department so it's not that unusual he would be interested in that sort of thing.

After some time, Keijiro was eventually able to now walk out of the shop with a brand new case across his back with Michael by his side.

Keijiro first met Michael in college when the guy came to study abroad in Japan. It's true that being African American in the East Asian area can cause some attention but Keijiro was the first to approach the guy in class. Over time, Michael's Japanese has gotten better and the locals around here are nice to him so that's all that matters.

"I'm guessing you're gonna want to go down to the shooting range after we're done here," Michael said as they entered the sea of Japanese civilians in the crowded street area. People were either shopping, goofing around or just trying to get to work.

"Well, you would be correct," Keijiro answered, "but I still need to stop by auntie's place to pick up Biscuit."

Michael shoved his way through the crowd and waited for the go ahead from the pedestrian signal with the rest of them. "I know you stayed at my place last night but you still could've brought the cat with you. It's not like I'm allergic."

Keijiro turned to his friend with his arms out like he was about to explain an important point. "You see, it's kind of like when you have kids and just need a break from them—"

"That's a shame."

"Ah, ah, ah, let me finish. I love her to death but she gets on my nerves so instead of putting her up for adoption, I give myself a break by taking her to auntie's house."

"Like I said, that's a shame," Michael said and laughed a little, "so when you have kids—"

"I don't like kids. I don't want kids."

"Fine, if you just so happen to have kids, you'll just give them up when they get too hard to handle?"

"Yes."

"I'm going to choose to believe you're joking," Michael said, and finally crossed the street.

Keijiro followed right behind him. "I was not." He then stretched his arms out in front of him. "Besides, cats are better. I just know my little girl's going to be so happy to see me."

Michael laughed again at that but a thunder-like commotion coming from the sky caught his attention. Keijiro heard it too, causing him to look up as the civilians around him murmured in confusion.

There were flashes of what looked like colorful lights imploding amongst the clouds and Keijiro heard a person next to him whisper something about fireworks.

"That's strange," Michael commented.

Keijiro prepared to respond to that but then—

....
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.....
...........

Keijiro's eyes flew open and the first thing he felt was a hard surface underneath him. He instantly sat up and realized the gun around his shoulder had been pressed hard against him from lying on his back in the grass.

Keijiro blinked hard at the cracked and faded grass in question before finally observing his new surroundings.

It was Japan, for sure.

But instead of the crowds of people and busy intersect he was just standing in, there was now... nothing.

The buildings around him were clearly abandoned and run down with vines and plant growth climbing up all sides and the road was littered with empty and discarded cars.

Keijiro, shakingly stood to his feet, clutching his necklace with an uneasy feeling and heard rustling coming from behind him. He whirled around reaching for the gun case on his back but only saw a destroyed building.

Only seconds later, a person emerged from the opening and locked eyes with Keijiro.

"Michael!" Keijiro cried out and ran over to embrace his dazed friend.

"Alright, alright, get off me." Michael pat Keijiro's back. He was covered in dirt with his cap no where to be found. "But um, quick question... where are we?"

Keijiro narrowed his eyes. "Now how would I know that?"

"Right." Michael ventured out further into the road. "I don't see anyone else. Were we not just in a populated area?" He tried to laugh it off but there was nothing funny about their situation.

"I'll just call auntie or mom," Keijiro said, reaching for his phone in his pocket but came up with nothing.

Michael saw the action and did the same but his phone was missing as well.

"Yeah, I don't like this." Keijiro sighed deeply, trying to decide his next move but Michael began to walk further down the street. "Hey! What are you doing?"

Michael called back to him. "Trying to find another person, come on!"

The two walked down the road until they entered the main area where they had been before, whatever this is, happened. The same stores were present but like the other buildings around them, they were all damaged beyond repair.

Keijiro jogged over to the gun shop they just left out of and was surprised to see that it looked exactly the same inside. However, the displayed guns and cases were covered in dust now and the counter where the shop owner stood was now vacant.

"Woah," Michael breathed out, coming up behind him.

Keijiro made his way over to the specific case where he just purchased his gun from and saw that it was actually empty unlike the others.

"Super freaky," Keijiro mumbled right as a strange sound came from outside the shop. It was like a sound that would come from someone who just powered on a gaming system.

The two guys exited the place and saw a light coming from a nearby building.

"I guess we should go over there?" Michael assumed and they both approached the building that had a bright white light emitting from its front.

At first, nothing happened but then large black words appeared on the screen.

"Game?" Keijiro questioned after reading them.

Next, multiple flashing white arrows on certain buildings guided them in a specific direction.

"I don't like where this is going,"Michael began, "but maybe we'll be able to find other people or at least something that'll tell us where we are."

Keijiro just nodded and they did just as the arrows said. They left the area they both woke up in and entered one where there were fewer buildings. The road they traveled also became narrower until they needed up in a... parking lot?

"Over here," Michael said and walked over to a large sign that stood above two tall wooden pillars.

ZOO

"Why are we at a zoo?" Keijiro asked out loud and his eyes widened, "do you think they have real lions?"

Michael side eyed him. "That's what you're concerned about?"

"Yes. They're just big kittens."

"Well, every zoo at least has a lion so that was a dumb question. But again, I doubt there are any animals in there."

"I guess we'll only find out if we go inside," Keijiro said, skipping ahead.

As they moved deeper into the area, unaware of the red magnetic field checking them in, they saw the start of an opening that led to the cages and exhibits along with concession stands and gift shops.

"This place doesn't seem as abandoned as the rest of this world," Michael pointed out then approached one cage, "oh!"

Keijiro approached the cage as well and saw a black panther resting behind it in its own enclosure.

"That is definitely real," Keijiro said, observing the animal's breathing.

"Hey, you guys!"

Keijiro and Michael turned around to see a blonde haired boy running towards them. He was coming from a group of eleven more people that were near another enclosure observing them silently.

The blonde boy stopped in front of the two, panting. His hair fell to his shoulders and his eyes were a clear blue while freckles covered his face.

"I think you two are the last to come," the boy said.

"What exactly is this?" Michael asked.

The boy shrugged. "I'm not sure. I just arrived here." He tapped his chin. "The last thing I remember was crossing the street..."

Keijiro looked over at the other people still watching them. "And who are they?"

The boy shrugged again.

"Just great."

"Anyways, my name is Fujitaka," the boy introduced himself.

"I'm Keijiro and this is my friend, Michael."

"Nice to meet you!" Fujitaka waved them over to follow him back to the others.

Keijiro saw that the people were all different; some were old, some were middle aged, and some were younger.

Keijiro also saw that beside the crowd of people was a long table with only two identical black phones.

Fujitaka pulled out a similar one from his back pocket. "I saw everyone grabbing one like it was the last brownie on the platter so I grabbed one as well."

Keijiro and Michael glanced at each other before taking the given phones. They stared at the screen before something resembling a facial recognition scanned their face. Next, an image of themselves popped up with their name and random numbers next to it.

"How'd it do that?" Keijiro asked but none of them had an answer.

"Looks like we got a full house," one man wearing a hat said, grinning. He was using a toothpick and his chubby figure was tight against the vest he was wearing.

"Alright, can someone explain what's going on?" Michael announced then gestured to Fujitaka. "Because this kid sure doesn't know."

"Hey, that's not my fault." Fujitaka pouted.

One older woman groaned. "This is just what we need, more newcomers. They're gonna get us killed."

"Killed?" Keijiro blinked. He saw how the others now started to shift away from them except for Fujitaka.

"Hey, one of them has a gun," a younger guy said, eyeing the weapon on Keijiro's back, "maybe we can take it once he gets killed."

Keijiro calmly grabbed his case then unpacked the shotgun before aiming it at the guy's head. "You can't take it if you're dead first."

The guy yelped and Michael lowered the gun in his friend's hands.

"Listen here kiddos," the man in the hat said, coming over to Keijiro and Michael, "all you need to do is do your best to survive. No telling what this game's suit is gonna be."

"Game suit?" Keijiro asked, "what does that mean?"

Before the man could answer, an automated voice began to speak to them from above.

Registration has closed
There are a total of 14 participants
The game will now commence

Keijiro and Michael felt the phones in their hands ding so they looked down at them.

Difficulty: 6 of Spades ♠️
Game: Wildlife Race

Murmurs of distaste now surrounded them.

"Oh no," a girl said shaking her head, "not spades!"

"What's wrong with spades?" Keijiro asked the hat man but he was obviously shaken up.

The man looked down at his figure. "This might be the end for me..."

Keijiro and Michael listened to the voice that started to speak again.

Rules: Find the exit hidden in one of the enclosures without getting caught

Time limit: 30 minutes

Click!

Keijiro's eyebrows furrowed from the click noise then saw all of the other participant's faces turn pale. He slowly turned to see that the cages that held the animals had now been unlocked and open.